Press Coverage February 2020 season in the Sonoran Desert, which Angelica Elliott, Desert Botanical Valley enthusiasts kicks off in February and typically Garden’s assistant director of public can expect a good peaks in mid- to late March. horticulture, said two factors, rainfall and soil temperatures, typically 2020 wildflower Her favorite blooms? Poppies and determine what kind of wildflower season owl’s clover. Her favorite places to season an area will experience. Posted Friday, February 28, see wildflowers? White Tank For a spectacular year, the desert 2020 12:30 pm Mountains Regional Park, Lake needs about an inch of rain per By Kelly O'Sullivan, Independent Pleasant Regional Park and month from October to January or Newsmedia Bartlett Lake in the Tonto National February, she said. Forest. “We had a decent amount of rainfall starting in November,” Ms. Elliott “I used to go to Peridot Mesa (in said, noting that while the 2020 San Carlos), but gave up due to all wildflower season won’t likely the broken bottles in the poppy feature the thick carpets of blooms fields,” Ms. Ramaley said. that highlighted last year’s season, she expects a good showing around Lisa Manifold, an award-winning the valley. nature photographer who relocated to the East Valley from Southern “We’ll probably have ‘throw rugs,’ California in 2018 to be near her first those little pockets of wildflowers,” LISA MANIFOLD/SPECIAL TO love, the Salt River horses, also she said. INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA spends much of the spring season scouring the landscape for The season also should feature Bartlett Lake in the Tonto National wildflower photo ops. showings by blooms like the ajo lily, Forest northeast of Phoenix is a that don’t always make an popular spot for wildflower “Spring, winter’s demise, colors the appearance each year. Also known as enthusiasts. Here, purple lupine and land east of Phoenix with vibrant the desert lily, the ajo lily features tall chia mingle with yellow and pink blues, purples, yellows, oranges and stalks with large, elegant white poppies. pinks,” she said. “Pink mallow, pink- blooms similar to Easter lilies. Ajo hued poppies, vibrant blue lupines, lilies are primarily found in sand Shirley Ramaley is wild about golden brittle bush and so much dunes and sandy washes in Arizona wildflowers. more!” and Southern California, including the White Tank Mountains in the Every spring, the West Valley retiree Her favorite blooms? Prickly poppy. West Valley. packs up her camera and her hiking Her favorite places to search for gear, and hits trails across the greater wildflowers? The Superstition Ms. Elliott said enthusiasts also Phoenix area in search of the Mountains, the road to Tortilla Flats should be on the lookout for two colorful blooms that herald the (Canyon Lake), Desert Botanical other blooms that don’t make desert’s transition from winter to Garden, Boyce Thompson regular annual appearances: ghost summer. Arboretum, Usery Mountain flowers and orobanche. Regional Park, Gilbert Riparian “I love the outdoors,” Ms. Ramaley Preserve, Tonto National Forest; Ghost flowers, so-called for their said. “I have a B.S. in biology, and Peralta Trail in Gold Canyon, translucent, cream-colored blooms anything having to do with nature is Roosevelt Lake and Bartlett Lake. dotted with burgundy, can be found what I enjoy. Wildflowers are in and around washes and on rocky beautiful and I prefer painting them, Predicting the season slopes below 2,500 feet. in watercolor, over any other Some years, like the “super blooms” subject.” of 2017 and 2019, hillsides and fields Orobanche, a parisitic plant also across the desert are covered in known as desert broomrape, looks Ms. Ramaley, who has had wildflowers as far as the eye can see. like a mushroom before flowering numerous nature photographs Other years, it’s more sparse, a pop dark purple, Ms. Elliott said. It can published in children’s magazines of purple and orange here, a streak be found in sandy flats throughout over the years, said she goes in of pink or yellow there. the state. search of her colorful subjects about twice a week during wildflower Page 1 Press Coverage February 2020 How long will they stay? photos of wildflowers the victim calm until help The length of this year’s wildflower categorized by color to help arrives. season will depend on whether it users identify blooms they see. • Step aside: People on bicycles rains in March, and how quickly • Visit Phoenix, and horseback have right-of- daytime temperatures hit and stay in visitphoenix.com/blog/post/se way over people on foot. the high 70s to 80s. e-wildflowers-phoenix, lists multiple viewing options. “If it stays relatively cool, that will • Facebook groups like Arizona McDowell Mountain extend the season,” Ms. Elliott said. Wildflowers & Cacti, Arizona park is pretty busy. Higher temperatures trigger the Wildflower and Cactus Blossom plants to stop flowering and produce Alert, as well as numerous This scenic trail lets seeds to ensure the next generation photographers’ groups and you get away from of blooms. pages feature photos by wildflower enthusiasts who are the crowd Regardless of the quantity of blooms often happy to share where they McDowell Mountain hike: Try this and the length of the season, Ms. saw blooms. less used trail in the busy park Elliott encourages people to take The Lousley Hill Trail makes a advantage of the nice weather to get What to know before you go moderate climb with great views all around. out and explore during wildflower • Trekking through the desert in Mare Czinar, Special for The season. search of wildflowers is fun, but RepublicPublished 7:00 a.m. MT there are some things to know Feb. 27, 2020 | Updated 12:48 p.m. “Just go out into our Sonoran before you go in terms of MT Feb. 27, 2020 Desert,” she said. “We have etiquette and safety: beautiful vistas, beautiful wildlife and • Leave no trace: Stay on beautiful plants.” designated trails, and don’t pick or trample the flowers. If you WHERE TO FIND must pose for a portrait of WILDFLOWERS yourself with the blooms, find a There are several ways to find out bare spot behind or in front of where to see and photograph the flowers of your choice, and wildflowers around the valley and settle there; don’t step, kneel or beyond: lay down except on bare • National, state and regional park ground. websites list what’s blooming in • Wear proper attire: Check Corrections & Clarifications: A their parks, as well as ranger-led weather reports and dress previous version of this story gave hikes and programs that may accordingly. Wear layers, a hat, an incorrect time frame for a interest visitors. For national sunglasses, good socks and lightning-caused fire at the park. The parks, monuments and sturdy shoes with soles designed fire occurred 24 years ago. preserves in Arizona, visit for diverse terrain. nps.gov/state/az and • Safety first: Stick to established Finding a quiet place in McDowell nps.gov/subjects/wildflowers. trails unless you’re familiar with Mountain Regional Park isn’t State parks, visit the area you’re exploring. Let always easy. azstateparks.com/wildflowers, someone know where you’re and regional parks around the going and when you plan to With its long, flowing trails, the valley, visit return home. Make sure your 21,099-acre Maricopa County park maricopacountyparks.net and cell phone battery is fully near Fountain Hills is popular with search wildflowers. charged, and bring plenty of mountain bikers, hikers and • DesertUSA.com features water and snacks. equestrians. wildflower reports for the • Respect wildlife: Keep an eye Arizona and California deserts, out for critters; wildlife, Outfitted with campsites, picnic as well as northern California, including venomous snakes, areas, playgrounds and family- Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. often hide in vegetation and friendly amenities and events, the The website shares photographs may bite if frightened. If you or park is a very busy place in Arizona’s provided by users, and its someone in your party is bitten, cooler months. Still, solitude can be wildflower field guide features call 9-1-1 immediately and keep found if you know where to look. Page 2 Press Coverage February 2020 trees and saguaro cactus provide Friends of White Tank Park co-sponsor the annual The 1.2-mile Lousley Hill Trail is an spots of shade throughout the Arts and Crafts Fair this weekend at the scenic park. under-the-radar gem that’s perfect otherwise open-to-the-sky hike. Photo courtesy Maricopa County Parks for escaping the crowds. The quiet trail offers easy access, a mild climb A series of long, lazy switchbacks White Tank Mountain Regional and scenic vistas of the Verde River lands hikers on the summit. A Park in Waddell will be celebrating valley, McDowell Mountains and gigantic rock cairn sits at the top of its 10th annual Arts and Crafts Fair distant wilderness peaks. the sunny vantage point with 360- this week. From the trailhead, a short access degree views. path crosses a sandy wash shaded by The juried fair will be held outdoors, mesquite trees to connect with the Look for the distinctive knob of Red 4 miles inside the White Tank loop portion of the trail. Either leg Mountain rising above emerald flood Mountain Park, on the west side of of the loop works for the climbing plains at the convergence of the Salt the Phoenix metropolitan area. part, although the left leg is less and Verde rivers and the hazy steep and more gradual than the silhouettes of the Sierra Ancha It will be open from 10 a.m.